Monday, 6th October 2008

Paul di Resta is just two points behind Timo Scheider with one DTM round remaining.

Norbert Haug has heaped praise on Paul di Resta after his astonishing drive back into contention during the latest round of the DTM at Le Mans, one that puts him in with a strong chance of sealing the title at the Hockenheim season finale.

In one of the most unpredictable – and confusing – DTM races of all time, intermittent rain wreaked havoc with strategies throughout the field as teams attempted to pit their cars between showers.

For some time it looked likely that Mercedes had gotten di Resta's strategy completely wrong after starting him off with a wet set-up. However, the drying track meant he could do nothing but stop five laps before the pit window had opened.

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As such, the tyre change wouldn't count towards his two stops, leaving him well out of contention, while Timo Scheider now looked destined for the title as he led the way early on. Indeed, while di Resta's pace helped him charge back into the points, it wasn't enough to get on terms with the leaders.

However, it was Audi's turn to have their strategy unravel as rain returned just two laps after Scheider had pitted for the final time. Prompting him and others to dive into the pit lane for a third stop, di Resta – who pitted at exactly the right time – simply scythed past his rivals and up to an eventual second place.

Although a win was denied by Mattias Ekstrom's defiant drive on slick tyres, di Resta's second place and Scheider's eventual sixth has hauled him up to be just two points adrift of the German with one race remaining.

“It was not the right decision to start with rain tyres, but in conditions like today, it is difficult to make the right choice. It's super that I finished second despite my extra pit stop and that I am only two points behind Timo Scheider - we knew that it would rain in the final third and my team had the perfect timing for the change; that was crucial.

“My speed was good despite the handicap weight which we now got rid of for the final race. I look forward to Hockenheim and I want to win in the great finale and thus clinch the championship title.”

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